Flat knitting machine



Oct. 12, 1943. H. K. WI EST 2,331,523

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 19, 1942 '7 sheet -sheet 1 m 5] W ag, .u

'INVENTOR: v v Howard Iii/Vest,

A TTORNE Y5.

Oct. 12, 1943. H. K. WEST 2,331,523

\ FLAT KNITTING MACHINE v Filed Aug. '19, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 '7 Y E By 7 %gm ATTO RNEYS.

Oct. 12, 1943; H. K. WEST FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1942 7 SheetsSheefi 5 l NV EN TOR: Howard Kwesz; BY W W ATTORNEYS.

" l zciio; v r v J FIG-.12-

Oct. 12,1943. H. K. WEST 2,331,528

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 HG'11Z FICil v 1127a I a; I I

v Q HG-1L XZ' I WITNESSES: IINVENTOR:

flowardlciidfesi- ATTORNEYS.

BY (l 7 grea Q Oct. 12, 1943-. K, W ST 2,331,528

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 WITNESSES.- INVENTO 5 HowardKJA/ #50 aw?? WW ATTORNEYS.

* I Oct. 12, 1943. H. K. WEST FLAT KNITTINGMACHINE Filed Aug '19, 1942 7 SheetsSheet 7 WITNESSES: INVENTOR;

- Hall/41rd Iii/Yes? W w W M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 12, 1943 Howard K.

dale Hosiery of Pennsylvania We t, Lansdale, Pa., assignor to Dex-- s, Lansdale, Pa., a corporation Application August 19, 1942, Serial No. 455,286

13 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines, particularly fine gauge flat knitting machines of the Cotton type such as are extensively used in the manufacture of full fashioned hosiery and the like.

In the operation of such knitting machines considerable difliculty is experienced through needle breakage, the correction of which entails loss of valuable time with corresponding curtailment in output. The difliculty is due to various causes, including frailty of the needle beards,

crystallization of the metalthrough repeated rapid flexing of the beards, and through moving frictional contact of the beards under heavy pressure with the presser ledge incident to stitch formation, which latter action is in turn attended by the formation of grooves in said ledge by the needle beards.

The chief aim of my invention is to overcome the several above mentioned drawbacks, which objective is realized in practice as hereinafter more fully set forth, through provision, in lieu of the usual spring beard needles, of needles with plain short rigid hooks, and separately actuated cooperative instrumentalities in the form of beard points which, in addition to performing the functions of the usual needle beards; control the yarn to insure its being taken by the end needles to make certain the formation of perfect selvages, and which, during stitch formation, are interposed between the needles and the presser ledge and are buttressed by said ledge as the needles are lightly pressed against them; and through the further provision of actuating means by which the period of sliding contact of the points with the ledge during each stitch forming cycle is reduced to a minimum.

A further aim of my invention is to make possible the actuation of the beard points from above the needles and to provide for their retraction automatically during fashioning phases of the knitting when the usual loop transfer points come into operation. The last mentioned objective I also attain in practice as later on more fully disclosed herein through provision 'of simple additional mechanism which is 'easily' attachedto existing machines and which does not in any way affect the normal functioning of the machine.

My invention is further concerned with provisions which will permit the needle beard points to be moved to an inactiveout-of-the-way position when access to the needles is desired for welt turning or other,purposes; as well as with i the provision of safety means which will prevent starting of the machine as long as the hook covering points are thus retracted, thereby to preclude press-offs.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following description of the at tached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in end elevation and partly in cross section of a fiat knitting machine conveniently embodying the present improvements. 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary broken out horizontal plan section taken as indicated by the angled arrows 11-41 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the machine taken as indicated by the angled'arrows III-III in Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary detail view in sectiontaken as indicated by the angled arrows IV-IV in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation showing certain of the rotary cams by which the knitting instrumentalitiesl of the machine are actuated.

Fig. 6 is a large scalefront perspective view of one of the special hook needles which Ihave. devised for utilization in my improved knitting machine.

Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sectional views of the needle on a still larger scale, taken respectively as indicated by the angled arrows VII-VH and VIII in Fig. 6.

Figs. Sand 10 are large scale frontand rear perspective views respectively of one of the novel beard points provided for cooperation with th needles in stitch formation.

Figsrll and 12 are. cross sectional views of the beard point taken as indicated respectively by the angled arrows m-m and m-m in Fig. 9 and drawn to a still larger scale.

Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 1'7, 18 and 19 are large scale fragmentary detail views corresponding toFig. 3 showing successive positions f various elements of the machine which cooper te in stitch formation.-

Figs. 20 and 21 are detail cross sectional views taken as respectively indicated by the angled.

Fig. 25 is a horizontal detail plan section taken as indicated by the arrows xxv-xxv m Fig. 23, the plane of the section of. the latter illustration being in turn indicated by the angled arrows XXIII}Q III in Fig. 25.

The knitting machine herein shown for convenience of exemplifying my invention is of the single unit type constructed generally after the 'manner disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,982,991,

granted to Kenneth-Howie and Charles C. Krieble on December 4, 1934. Here, as in the patent, the main can shaft l2 of the machine is journaled in suitat le bearings on the spaced end frames |3 ated. Also journaled in bearings on the end frames l3 above the cam shaft I2 is a rock shaft 2| whereto is aflixed a pendent arm 22 with a roller'(n0t shown) which runs in contact with a cam (not shown) on said cam shaft, and horizontal forward projecting arms 26 whereto the carrier 21 for the needle bar 28 of the machine is pivoted at 29. Through the medium of the connections just described, the usual up and down movements are imparted to the needle bar 28 as required incident to stitch formation. The attendant in-and-out movements of the needle bar 28 are induced through another pair of arms such as the one shown at 30 which is loose on the shaft 2| and carries a roller 3| which bears on the periphery of a rotary cam 32 on the cam shaft l2. Projecting laterally from each arm 30 is a stud 33 which is engaged by the hook end of operation with the. needles 45, in stitch formation, I provide special hook covering heard instrumentalities or points 41, such as shown in detail in Figs. 9-12, each having a beard portion 41a at one end and a laterally bent anchorage butt 41b at the other end. Like the hook needles 45, the points 41 are fashioned from round wire stock, but to obtuse angular configuration (as viewed from the side) with a knee bend at 410. The beard portion 41a of the point is-slitted as at 41:1 to provide a longitudinal U-groove, see Fig. 12, for reception of the needle hook 45min the manner shown in Figs. 16 and 20, and its shank portion is flattened as at 41c in the plane of the butt 41b for greater security against yielding torsionally in its holder bar 49, see Fig. 3. The described construction allows slight-flexure ofthe beard end 41a of the point about the knee bend at 470.

During stitch formation, the tapered ends of the beard points 41 enter the grooves 450 in the shanks of the needles 45 after the manner of the beards-of ordinary spring needles, and as shown in Fig. 21.

.As shown in Figs. l-3, the supporting bar 49 for the beard points 41 is arranged longitudinally of the machine, and at its ends has rearwardly proa horizontal link 34 pivotally connected to a pendent arm 35 affixed to one of the pivots 29. As ordinarily, the machine is provided withloop transferring points 38 which are used in the fashioning phases of the-knitting, and which are fixed in a holder- 31. As ordinarily, the holder '31 is suspended from a rod 38 carried by end brackets 39 which are in turn connected to a parallel rod 40 supported by dipper arms whereof one is partly shown at 4| in Fig.3. These arms 4| are actuated in a well known may through drop links 42, which at their lower ends are connected to horizontal arms 43 on a rockshaft 44 immediately alongside the rock shaft 2|.

In adapting my invention to a knitting machine of the type just briefly described, I substitfite in the bar 28 in place of the'usual spring beard needles, needles such as shown at 45 having short rigid hooks 45a at their tops. As shown to the best advantage in Fig. 6, the hook needles are fashioned from'round wire, with laterally turned anchorage butts 45b (like those of ordinary spring beard needles) at their bottomends.

Somewhat below the hook 45a, the wire is slitted as at 450 to provide a longitudinally extending V-section frontal groove (see Fig. 7), and below the groove the shank of the needle is flattened as at 45d in Figs. 6 and 8 with incidental formation of shoulders at 45e, the flattened portion below said shoulders being wider than that above, and extending down almost to the butt 45b.

' From Fig. 3, it will be noted that the wide fiat lower portion of the needle shank is almost wholly embedded in the needle bar 28 as a result of which the needle is securely held, while the projecting upper portion of the needle is free above the needle bar and capable of slight fiexure in the plane of the butt 451). For individual cojecting horizontal arms 50 with laterally and outwardly extending fulcrum trunnions 5| engaged in bearing bosses 52 on the parallel side members 53a of a horizontal carriage 53, said side members being confined to endwise sliding movement in guides 54. As further shown in Figs. 1-3, inP tegrally formed pendent sleeves'55 on the guides 54 are clamped to a shaft 56 journaled in bearing brackets 51 which are separately secured to the rearward projections 3a of the end frames I3 of the machine. Rocking movements are imparted to the shaft 56 through an attached arm 58 having a roller 59 at its free end running on the periphery of a special cam 60 on the main cam shaft .|2 of the machine, such engagement being yieldingly maintained by a tension spring 6| (Fig. 1). The carriage 53 is urged forwardly in its guides 54 by springs 62, each of which is secured at one end to across bar 63 connecting the side members 53a of said carriage, and at the other end to a fixed anchorage 65 on the frontal bed |5 of the machine. From Fig. 2 it will be observed that the inward movementof the carriage is limited by engagement of adjustable stop screws 66 at the rear ends of the side members 53a (Figs. 2 and 3) with the corresponding ends of the guides 54. Due to the engagement of spring pressed stop pins 61 in upstanding arms 68 affixed to the trunnions 5| respectively with notches 59 in upstanding sector projections 10 on the bearing bosses 52, the beard point bar 49 is normally maintained in the position shown in full lines with its rearward arms 50 in the planes of the members 53a. At their tops the stop pins 61- are formed with finger grasps 1| whereby they may be lifted from engagement with the notches 69 in the sectors 10 to enable the point bar 49 to be swung upwardly and rearwardly to the position in which it is shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3 when access is necessary to the needles 45, as for example in turning welts. When moved as just explained, the point bar 49 is held against accidental displacement through engagement of the inner ends of the stop pins 61 with smaller notchels 12 in the sectors 10. Extending inwardly of the machine from the bearing bosses 52 on the side members 53a of the carriage 53 are arms 15 with rollers 15 at their aseasse tree ends which are adapted to engage the rear edges-oi upstanding projections ll on the needle bar 28 as the beard point bar 49 is vertically oscillated during stitch formation as presently explained. Incident to the fashioning phases of the knitting, as the links 52 are moved downward, cam pieces 58 attached to them engage rollers is on the ons 58 of the carriage 53, thereb to efiect retraction of said carriage he with the beard points all out of the path of the transfer points it as the latter descend in fashioning operations, as shown in Fig. 22. The cam for controlling the beard points during the fashioning phases is shown at 8!! in Figs. 3 and 5 as mounted on the cam shaft i2 alongside the cam ed.

in order to obviate press-offs in the event that themachine attendant leaves the point bar as swung up in its inoperative position after turning welts, I have provided a safety means which will prevent starting of the machine at'such times. its best shown in Figs. 1 and 22, this safety means includes a detent 8! which is afnxed to'the inner end of a short shaft 82 journaled in the right-hand side frame i3, and which is adapted to engage the .teeth or a pinion embodied in the drive mechanism of the machine and in mesh with the gear 96 on the cam shaft said points, and the newly sunk bights of the yarn Y trapped in the closed eyes Jointly formed by said needles and said points. From then on, due to the short but gradual rise 6th on the cam on (Fig. 5), the points 41 are caused to'descend at a uniform rate with the needles 45 to the ously iced course or the fabric on the knockovers. During the last described step, the lateral position of the points d! with respect to the needles this accurately controlled through co operation of the rollers it on the carriage 53 with the eam projection H on the needle bar 28 in such a manner that the lateral pressure exerted between the needles and the points and between the latter and the presser ledge Ila is very slight-Just sumcient to insure needle hook sheathing with penetration of the old loops 1.. by

2 the points, and row aligning of said points as shown in Figs. and 21 for obtainment of uniiormity in the size of the new loops under forma= tion. it will moreover be observed that during the last described step, the points ill have straight 25 line contact with the front of the presser ledge 39 immediately foregoing and the short period of onthe trunnion til at the corresponding end of Y the machine. Normally with the beard point bar.

I detent ti to engage the teeth of the pinion 88.

The operation of themachine improved in accordance with my invention, is as follows:

In Figs. 1 and 3 the hook needles d5 are in their fully elevated positions. the beard points il fully raised, and the sinkers it fully retracted at the beginning-of a loop-forming cycle in a knitting phase, the yarn Y having been laid on the nibs of said'sinkers to the front ofsaid needies by the horizontally reciprocating carrier which is indicated at 87 in Fig. 1, and which is also shown in Figs. 23-25. Fig. 13 illustrates the next step in the cycle in which'the sinkers it have .iust'been advanced to kink the newly laid yarn Y about the shanks of the needles it. a portion of the previously knitweb W being shown as lying in the interval between said sinkers and the knock-overs 2t, and the beard points it? having been lowered by the initial easy slope 60a: of the cam to (Fig. 5) to a level slightly above the needles with the straight backs of their end portions substantially in line with the straight front portion of the presser ledge Ila. Thereupon the straight line contact between the points 41 and the presser ledge Ila, it will be evident that wear on the said points and ledge is reduced to a minimum. At this stage in the loop forming 3 cycle, it will be further noted from Fig. 1'? that the points Q1 also function as strippers during I retraction of the sinkers N, by. holding thev loops L in the manner shown. This action is advantageous in that it obviates yarn rupture as often happens-ordinarily when the sizing causes the suing projection of the sinkers l8 and rise of the needles it, as ordinarily, for the initiation of the Y needles it and heard points 47 descend'at (iii the grooves 650 of the needles 45, with the hooks yarn to stick to the top edges of the sinker nibs. Due to the dwell 600 at the crest or high spot of the cam at (Fig. 5), the points 41 are caused to rest for a short time in their lowest position as shown in Fig. 16 while the needles begin moving laterally outward from engaging contact and at the same time are further depressed to draw the new loops L off the nib ends of the receding sinkers it. When theneedles d5 have reached the lowest level in their descent'with the new loops L drawn through'the previously formed loops, the points dl begin to rise as shown in Fig.

13 with attendant'advance of the knockovers to cast'said new loops. In Fig. 19, the knockovers have been fully advanced preparatory to the ennent loop forming cycle of the machine. Re-

' ferring again to Fig. 5, the cam so is provided with a sudden drop at 68dv whereby the beard points d'i are ofeach loop forming cycle of the machine, as shown in Fig. 19.

At the region ace, the camifiil has an edge por tlon coinciding with the cam on, whereby the presserledge Ila, with the ends of the points in a beard points 47 are controlled during the fashioning phases of the machine, said region constituting the cross-over point for the roller 59- on the arm 58 when the cam shaft-l2 is axially shift= the'roller 59 riding on the concentric low portion 4511.0! the needles buried in the grooves 41d oi as of the cam during the fashioning phases. the

given a considerable lead on the needles as they rise together at the completion ed as usual irom its knitting phase position 'to its fashioning phase position, and vice versa. With beard points 41 4 411:, the yarn carrier lower part of the machine.

point actuating ready welt turning, as well as observation, at all series of hook needles;

' the machine, including a and a support pivoted e111 be held in the retracted or inactive position in which they are illustratedin Fig. 22 as already explained, where they will not interfere with lateral loop displacement between needles by the'transier points 36, which operation can thus be accomplished in the usual and well known'way.

Figs. 23-25, show how my improved beard points also serve as a means for controlling the knitting yarn Y to insure the formation at all times of selvage loops on the end or selvage needles. In Figs. 23, 24 the selvage needle is .indicated at 45.1: and the cooperating beard point at 81 having stopped over the sinker (divider lily) immediately beyond said end needle in Fig. 25. By virtue of being positioned in front of the end needle 45:1: and of extending well above it as shown in Fig. 23 at the time the selvage loop L2 is about to be drawn off the nib of sinker I83: immediately inward .of the needle, the point "a: by cooperation with the next adjacent point My outwardly thereof in the series, will hold the strand of loose yarn Y which extends from the carrier 81 in restraint, thereby preventing it from ballooning and precluding springing of the new selvage loop out of the needle hook until said loop has been drawn intothe previous selvage loop L3 of the web W as shown in Fig. 24, as often happens in ordinary flat machines when high-twist or other lively yarns are used in the knitting. I I

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention is in the form of a simple and relatively inexpensive, attachment which is applicable to standard types of flat knitting machines without entailing any changes in their construction except for substitution of hook .needles in place of the usual spring beard needles, and moreover, without affecting the normal mode of operation of such machines. By providing for the operation of the beard points from above the needles,'it will be seen that I avoidcomplicity in the actuating mechanism therefor and fouling or'interference with the closely crowded needle, sinker and knockover control mechanisms in the It will be further seen that the design and allocation of the beard mechanism is-such as to allow times, of the work as it is horizontally drawn forward in the usual way during its formation by the take-up (not shown) of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a knitting: machine, a presser ledge; a means for moving the needles up and down and in and out relative to the presser ledge; a series of beard points; and mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from abovebetween the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during the loop forming cycles of holder for the points, for up and down swinging movement in which the holder is confined to reciprocation for lateral movement with the needles relative to the presser ledge.v

2. In a knitting machine, a presser ledge; a series of hook needles; means for moving the needles up and down and in and out relative to the presser ledge; a series of beard points; and mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from above between the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during the loop forming cycles of the machine, including; a holder for the points, a support pivoted-for up and down swinging movement in which the holder is confined to reciprocation for lateral movement with the needles relative to the presser ledge, a rotary shaft, a cam on said shaft, and interposed operating connections between said support and said cam.

3. In a knitting machine, a'presser ledge; a.

series of hook needles; means for moving the needles upand down and in and out relative to the presser ledge; a series of beard points; and mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from above betWeen the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during the loop forming cycles of the machine, including a holder for said points, a

support pivoted for up and down swinging movement in which the holder is confined to reciprocation for lateral movement with the needles relative to the presser ledge; and means whereby the holder is connected 'to the guide with capacity for retraction to an inoperative position to permit accessto the needles when necessary.

4. In a knitting machine, a presser ledge; a series of hook needles; means for moving the needles up and down and inand out relative to the presser ledge; a series of beard points; and

mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from above between the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during the loop forming cycles of the machine, including a holder for said points, a support pivoted for up and down swinging movement in which the holder is confined to reciprocation for lateral movement with the needles relative to the presser ledge; means whereby the holder is connected to the guide with capacity for retraction to an inoperative position to permit access to the needles when necessary; and safety means automatically rendered efiective when the holder is so retracted to prevent opera-- tion of the machine.

5. In a knitting machine, driving mechanism; a presser ledge; a series of hook needles; means for moving the needles up and down and in and out relative to the presser ledge; a series of beard points; and mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from above between the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during the loop forming cycles of the machine, including a holder for said points, a support pivoted, for up and down swinging movement in which the' holder is confined to reciprocation for lateral movement with the needles relative 'to the presser ledge; and means whereby the holder' is connected to its support with capacity for retraction to an inoperative position to permit access to the needles; and safety means for automatically locking the drive mechanism of the machine against movement when the holder is so retracted.

6. In a knitting machine, a presser ledge; a series. of hook needles; means for moving the needles up and down and inand out relative to the presser ledge; av series of beard points; and mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from above between the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during the loop forming cycles of the machine, including a holder for said points, a support pivoted for up and down swinging movement in which the holder is confined to reciprocation for lateral movement with the neewith the needles and influential upon the holder to move it in opposition to said yielding means for maintenance of the points in proper cooperative relation laterally with the needles during loop formation.

7. In a knitting machine, a series of hook needles; a series of beard points to cooperate with the needles in loop formation; a series of transfer points to cooperate with the needles in fashioning phases; means for changing the machine from knitting to fashioning phases of operation; and means automatically operated during transition of the machine from the knitting phases to render the beard points inoperative and to move them to a position out of the way of the transfer points.

8. In a knitting machine, a presser ledge; a series of hook needles; means for moving the needles up and down and in andout relative to v the presser ledge; a series of beard points; mechanism for actuating the points to interpose them from above between the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to cooperate with the needles during stitch forming cycles of the machine; means for changing the machine from knitting to fashioning phases and vice versa; a series of transfer points to cooperate with the needles during the fashioning phases; and means automatically actuated duringtransition of the machine from the knitting phases to the fashioning phases to prevent operation of the beard points and to move them to a position where they will be out of the way of said transfer points during such fashioning phases.

9. In a knitting machine, a presser ledge; a series of hook needles; means for moving the needles up and down and in and out relative to the presser ledge; a series of beard points; a rotary cam shaft which is axially shiftable to change the machine from knitting phases to fashioning phases, and vice versa; a rotary cam on the cam shaft instrumental in actuating the points during knitting phases to interpose them between the presser ledge and the needles and to cause them to operate with the needles in loop formation; a series of transfer points to cooperate with the needles during the fashioning phases of the machine; another cam on the cam shaft influential when the machine is in its fashioning phases to prevent actuation of the beard points and to move said points to a positionwhere they will be out of the way of said transfer points during the fashioning phases.

10. In a knitting machine, a series of flexible hook needles; a corresponding series of, knockovers; a presser ledge; means for moving the needles up and down and laterally toward and away from the presser ledge; a series of beard points having flexibly-supported grooved end portions with straight backs for sheathing the needle hooks incident to loop formation; and actuating means operative during each loop forming cycle when the needles are raised and remote from the presser ledge to first move the points from a, position beyond the needles to a a knitting machine such as defined in claim 1,

position forward and abreast of the needle hooks with their straight backs in line with the front face of said presser ledge; then to move the points downwardly in unison with the needles at the time when the latter-are concurrently moved inward of the machine whereby contact with the points ensues and the backs of the point ends are caused to slide in light straight line contact with thefront of the grooved presser ledge until said points have penetrated the previouslyformed loops on the needle shanks and rest on the knockovers, and immediately, as the needles recede after having drawn new loops through said previously formed loops, to withdraw the points from the region of stitch formation and return them to their original positions.

11. A knitting machine according to claim 10, in which the beard points are operated from above the needles.

12. A needle hook-sheathing point for use in having an anchorage or shank portion, and a grooved hook-sheathing end portion joined to said shank portion by a thinner connecting portion about which flexure can take place.

13. A needle hook-sheathing point for use in a knitting machine such as defined inclaim 1,

said point being formed from a lengthof round wire whereof one end part is flattened to provide a rigid anchorage'portion, and whereof theother end partis spread and grooved to provide a hooksheathing portion, and having a relatively thin portion connecting said hook-sheathing portion with said anchorage portion to define a point about which flexure can take place.

HOWARD K WEST. 

